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2015 Ford Expedition XL

To minimize potential lumbering-truck handling with its 2015 Expedition, Ford has added an optional front suspension feature to its largest SUV that allows drivers to select between sport, normal, and comfort modes.

The feature, known as continuously controlled damping suspension, will be familiar to Lincoln drivers. It's an impressive feature that's not the only one that comes over from the Lincoln Navigator. The 2015 Expedition also gets the 3.5L twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 to improve fuel economy. Back to the engine in a moment.

I drove the 2015 Expedition XL King Ranch (with the extended wheelbase) along a more than 60-mile stretch of rural highways of West Virginia that provided an excellent testing ground for the new suspension feature. I switched it into sport mode to improve handling around the twisty mountainous roads, then pushed it back to comfort mode for the straightaways to smooth out the ride for third-row passengers.

Photo by Paul Clinton.

The Expedition still isn't a sporty sedan, but the new suspension really improves the driving experience and increases the fun factor.

Adding the EcoBoost should improve the fuel economy by 15 percent over the 2014 model, which provided 14 mpg city and 20 mpg highway, when driven in rear-wheel mode, according to Ford reps.

Ford is adding the Platinum trim level for the 2015 model year that includes 22-inch wheels, a leather-lined interior, as well as a redesigned instrument cluster, steering wheel, and center console.

Driving Notes

The Volkswagen Tiguan is a compact SUV whose sales to commercial fleets is growing. It is VW’s second best-selling fleet model after the Passat. It comes with a six-year or 72,000-mile bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranty.

The 2019 Ford Transit Connect is available in either a cargo or passenger configuration and in short- or long-wheelbase models. The 2019 model can be ordered with a new 2.0L I-4 gasoline engine, optional 1.5L turbodiesel, or fleet-only 2.5L I-4.

The bigger frame, powered by a 6.6L Duramax turbo-diesel with 910 lb.-ft. of torque that is mated to a 10-speed Allison transmission delivers a greater towing capacity than its predecessor models, well in excess of 30,000 pounds.

The fifth-generation 2019 Forester is better by nearly every metric. It is quieter, larger, and safer. It has increased horsepower, greater fuel efficiency, and is more technologically advanced than the fourth-generation model it replaced.

What better way to showcase the cat-like reflexes of Jaguar's 2019 I-Pace than to allow a group of automotive industry professionals to guide the battery-electric crossover through an autocross course, then test it on the narrow, residential streets surrounding the Santa Monica Airport.

The Subaru Forester always owned the moniker of “functional crossover” and owned it well. The compact SUV gets a substantial makeover for the 2019 model year and doesn’t stray from its roots — yet widens its appeal with added capabilities and features.

The 2019 Corolla Hatchback XSE is equipped with a new CVT that features an innovative launch gear. Compared to prior generation CVTs, the launch gear gives the hatchback quick bursts of low-speed acceleration, while significantly improving transmission efficiency and fuel economy.

Nissan's 2019 Altima midsize sedan gets a wide-ranging update led off by new powertrains and enough safety tech and to remain firmly planted as a reliable choice for the pharmaceutical and other commercial fleets now using it.

Jeep's fourth-generation 2018 Wrangler JL arrives as a significant update to its Wrangler JK that upgrades the off-road icon into a more connected, fuel efficient, and more configurable model that should be a high-priority target for rental fleets in Utah, Colorado, and other areas located near national parks.